Who founded Kenner Products?
Kenner was founded in 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by three brothers, Albert, Philip, and Joseph L. Steiner.
Questions about Kenner Products
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did Kenner get the license to make Star Wars toys?
Kenner obtained the Star Wars toy license in 1976 after the Mego Corporation turned the deal down. Kenner then popularized the 3.75 inch action figure that became a toy industry standard.
What happened to Kenner Products over time?
Kenner passed through a series of owners, from General Mills in 1967 to Kenner Parker Toys in 1985, Tonka in 1987, and Hasbro in 1991. Hasbro closed Kenner's Cincinnati offices in 2000 and merged its product lines into its own.
What was Kenner's Super Powers Collection?
The Super Powers Collection was a line of DC Comics superhero action figures Kenner produced in 1984-1986, each with a built-in action such as Superman throwing a punch when his legs were squeezed. DC Comics honored Kenner for the line in its 1985 anniversary publication, Fifty Who Made DC Great.
Did Kenner make toys for Jurassic Park?
Yes, Kenner released the Jurassic Park: Chaos Effect toy line in 1998, but sales fell short of expectations. A planned second wave, the Night Hunter series, was cancelled in 1999 after the poor sales.
When did the Kenner brand return after Hasbro shut it down?
Hasbro revived the Kenner name in 2010 with Star Wars: The Vintage Collection, packaging new figures to resemble the original 1978-1984 Kenner Star Wars line.